News
Dr. Ruchitha Perera appointed to Board of Directors of CIM, UK
Dr. Ruchitha Perera, FCIM, Chartered Marketer (UK), has been elected to the Board of Directors of The Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK, for a three-year term, beginning December 2022. The appointment was announced at its Annual General Meeting held recently, at Moor Hall, United Kingdom.
The Board of Directors consists of 10 members, of which eight represent the UK, and Europe, and two represent the rest of the world. Ruchitha was elected as per the electoral results from a ballot of all voting members of CIM worldwide. The Board of Directors are required to uphold CIM’s constitution and are responsible for the overall governance of CIM and its affairs. The Board is also answerable to CIM members for the activities and functions undertaken to uplift the standards of marketing, as a profession globally.
An alumnus of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, Ruchitha is an enthusiastic marketer, with a career spanning 30 years, delivering marketing education, business coaching and training. He has also provided leadership to global organisations, representing brands such as Acer, IBM, and HP.
As an inspirational business coach, specialising in marketing, sustainability, and digital transformation, he has displayed a thorough understanding of marketing trends, driving organisational value through global coaching assignments.
In addition to facilitating CIM modules, Ruchitha has also aided both masters and doctoral programmes, internationally. He has guided many professionals, and organisations, enabling them to be future ready. Furthermore, he takes pride in motivating the next generation of entrepreneurs to embrace innovative marketing through local and international mentoring programmes.
Ruchitha plans to enhance stakeholder value, create fusion and cordial relationships within and beyond the marketing fraternity by positioning CIM as the global mark of professional marketing.
CIM is the world’s leading professional body for marketing and has been operating in Sri Lanka for more than 25 years, specialising in supporting people to achieve internationally recognised professional marketing qualifications.
In December 2018, CIM opened a new office in Colombo, with business development as its primary focus. Business volume has increased by 50% with a sharp 67% increase in professional members and a 40% increase in students by November 2021 and April 2022, respectively.
Unfortunately, the economic challenges in Sri Lanka have temporarily hampered aspirations of further growth but a doubling of regional social media followers is a clear indication that the organisations positioning has improved. During COVID restrictions, CIM Sri Lanka held regular webinars to ensure members were still able to connect with CIM’s community of marketers and had access to the insight necessary to progress their careers.
CIM Sri Lanka and the Maldives is headed by Ms. Onalie Dissanayake, supported by staff and a team of experienced volunteers.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
